The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust in partnership with the Public Health Foundation of India and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine will be hosting the National Diabetic Retinopathy Summit, in Hyderabad from 12th -14th April 2014. The summit aims to develop an agreed national strategy for the prevention, detection and treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy (DR), a leading cause of avoidable blindness amongst diabetics in India. The Summit will further examine a landmark India centric situational analysis as the starting point for the development of a shared national strategy.

The South Asia Centre for Disability Inclusive Development & Research (SACDIR) at the Indian Institute of Public Health, Hyderabad (IIPH-H), a constituent unit of the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), was the hub for conducting a situational analysis and research.  The Centre will also oversee and implement the strategic partnership between PHFI and The Trust to develop various approaches to treat diabetic retinopathy across India.

A major finding from the situational analysis was the lack of attention given to the damaging impact diabetes can have on vision, with less than a third of diabetes physicians even having a simple vision chart in their clinics.

The study also highlighted a severe lack of public awareness about diabetes and the importance of regular eye tests. Half of the people in the study didn’t know they had diabetes until they visited an eye clinic for problems with their vision.  More than half the patients visiting ophthalmologists had been suffering from diabetes for over 10 years, with 15% living with the condition for over 20 years and therefore putting themselves at a high risk of sight loss.

Diabetic Retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness among working adults. Hence these findings highlight the substantial public health effect of diabetes and the need for effective screening and management of DR related risk factors.

Dr Astrid Bonfield, Chief Executive of The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust, said, “The Trust is delighted to bring together of some of the world’s leading experts in eye health care and diabetes and we are looking forward to supporting the agreed national strategy to come out of this summit. This gathering of minds is a huge step towards tackling an escalating cause of blindness and will ultimately save the sight of many millions of people across the Commonwealth”.

Dr GVS Murthy, Director of IIPH-H said, “Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) is a leading cause of visual impairment in India with 18% of diabetics suffering from DR. Awareness of DR in India is poor and 1/3rd of diabetics don’t know about it. Hence, DR is expected to be one of the leading public health challenges in India. This Summit brings together all stakeholders including the Indian Government, eye care professionals, international and national NGOs, academic researchers, civil society, patient groups and media representatives. They will deliberate on the findings from the first ever comprehensive situational analysis conducted in the mega cities in India and chart out an integrated action plan to mitigate the consequences of diabetes on the eye. The Public Health Foundation of India is honoured to be hosting this Summit of national importance”.

Sir Michael Hirst, President of the International Diabetes Federation said, "The International Diabetes Federation is very pleased to be associated with this excellent initiative by The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust.  Far too many people with diabetes lose their sight to diabetes-related eye disease in India as elsewhere, because there is no effective retinal screening or appropriate care and treatment available. Thanks to the work of the Trust, diabetic retinopathy is being given far more attention and remedial action.  We look forward to a long and constructive partnership with organisations devoted to the saving of sight."

According to WHO estimates, diabetic retinopathy is responsible for 4% of the 45 million cases of blindness due to eye conditions and uncorrected refractive error throughout the world. However this is set to increase in the coming years. By 2030 India will have an estimated 80 million diabetics, the highest number for any country.

The three day summit will have discussions and workshops that will bring together leaders in eye health, diabetes and health policy in India and internationally. They will work together to develop ways of increasing public awareness of the condition, identify priorities for control and detail short and medium term support strategies. It will lead to the creation of a detailed national plan of action to combat diabetic retinopathy supported by all the actors involved.

SOURCE: IAPB.ORG